A. E. Turton

Surname:

Turton

Given names:

A. E.

Given address:

Castle Street

Sheet No: 99

Town/Suburb:

Central Dunedin

City/Region:

Dunedin

Notes:

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Annette Elizabeth Swainson was born about 1851 in the Hutt Valley near Wellington – the daughter of William Swainson, a notably naturalist and botanical draughtsman, and Anne Grasby.

Her father died in 1855 and her mother in 1868 leaving her in the hands of a guardian.

Annette married Wesley Turton, a barrister and solicitor, on 15 September 1873 in Queenstown and they had six children.

When Annette signed the suffrage petition she was living in Castle St, Dunedin her occupation given as 'litterateur'.

Her children were attending school and University in Dunedin at this time.

She and Wesley appear to have grown apart as he stayed in Queenstown while Annette later lived in Wellington then New Plymouth.

Wesley died in Queenstown in 1922 and left his estate to his children, he is buried in the Queenstown Cemetery.

Annette died at New Plymouth on 9 January 1925, she is buried in the Havelock North Cemetery.

Her obituary say she 'was one of the outstanding women of New Zealand, being well known as a journalist, both here and in Wellington. She was also a fluent linguist, and did a good deal of translation work, and, being keenly interested in women’s affairs, she contributed many articles of value on questions of importance to women in general.'

She'spent a great deal of her life in the North Island. For some years, however, she lived in Dunedin, and during that time was engaged in literary work on behalf of the Otago Daily Times and Otago Witness.'

'She was a woman of high culture and education.'